Shane J. Guidry, President and CEO of Harvey Gulf International Marine, Inc., Harvey, La., says he plans to upgrade four of the company's largest existing offshore towing vessels to give them Dynamic Positioning Class-1 Capability.

Guidry says he's making the upgrades "due to the ever changing marine environment in the deep waters of the U.S. Gulf" and that this is the "first application for a Dynamically Positioned Tug to operate in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico."

The conversions will be completed by November 2005, and will include installation of Becker Split Rudders, increased horsepower on all bow thrusters and installation of Kongsberg Simrad Dynamic Positioning System. This will allow the vessels to be ABS Certified Class DP-1.

"These ultra modern vessels are state-of-the-art in design," says Guidry, "and this DP-1 capability will tremendously enhance the vessels' station keeping ability for safety performance during connecting and disconnecting when approaching rigs during high Loop Currents and marginal weather conditions."